Report Card: San Antonio Spurs 104 vs Golden State Warriors 93

Mar 20, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich instructs during the first half against the Golden State Warriors at the AT

Tim Duncan had his third straight high-production game, this time scoring 25 points and grabbing 13 rebounds to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 104-93 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday at the AT&T Center.  The win marks the 29th consecutive victory for the Spurs over the Warriors in San Antonio.

More importantly, the Spurs (52-16) opened a 2 1/2-game lead over Oklahoma City for the top seed in the West.  The Spurs also have the tiebreaker thus far.  For Oklahoma City, they lost in overtime Wednesday at Memphis.

Back to Duncan, his last three games, all wins without the injured Tony Parker in the lineup — have gone for 28 points, 30 points and the 25 from Wednesday.  The Spurs could get Parker back Friday after he missed the past eight games with an ankle sprain (the Spurs are 6-2 without him).

The Warriors (39-31) had won four of five coming in and had a franchise first of winning consecutive road games by 20 points or more (they had allowed just 75 points per game and 33-percent shooting in Houston and New Orleans).

Stephen Curry led Golden State with 24 points, and he hit half of his eight 3-pointers.

(Before we get to the grades for the players, I wanted to add a little more information I hope you all will enjoy).

Quotable: Courtesy NBA.Com

“[Duncan] is just unbelievable.  He’s figuring out how to play great at his age.  It’s not easy.  He’s not the same guy he was 10 years ago.” — Spurs’ Tiago Splitter

The Stat:  The Warriors were burned by their own hand tonight and showed a little of how the Spurs have been playing lately with handling the ball.  They committed 17 turnovers and were doubled up in points off turnovers 26-13.  It got particularly messy for them in the fourth quarter then they turned the ball over five times and the Spurs scored eight points off those mistakes.

Mar 20, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) reacts after a shot during the second half against the Golden State Warriors at the AT

Turning Point:  After Golden State trimmed a 13-point San Antonio lead to four with 3 1/2 minutes to go on a pari of free throws by Curry, the Spurs outscored the Warriors 12-3 over the next 2 1/2 minutes to put the game away.  Duncan scored half of those points, had a pair of rebounds (including one offense that extended a possession) and had an assist when the defense collapsed down on him on a clear out (he kicked out to Manu Ginobili for a 3-pointer).

Hot:  Tim Duncan was 11-for-17 from the floor Wednesday night and has gone 36-for-56 in the pass three games.  This marks a 64%field goal percentage.

Not:  Golden State Warriors big men.  Andrew Bogut and David Lee combined to go 6-for-36.

Up Next:  San Antonio, Friday vs Utah, Sunday @ Houston, Wednesday vs Denver

Game Report Cards

PG Cory Joseph | 0 points, 0-for-2 shooting, 2 assists, 2 steals, 15 minutes

Joseph played just 15 minutes but that was due to how well Nando De Colo played in the game. Joseph shot the ball just twice and had 2 assists and 2 steals.

Grade: C

SG Danny Green | 9 points, 3-of-9 shooting, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 28 minutes

Danny Green played just under 30 minutes and though his scoring has not been up there as of late, he still contributed well on the defensive end holding the Warriors Klay Thompson to just 9 points.   Thompson has been on a tear lately for the Warriors the past few games averaging just under 18 a game.

Grade: B-

SF Kawhi Leonard | 9 points, 4-of-7 shooting, 4 rebounds, 33 minutes

Leonard had a decent game on Wednesday.  During the game he seems to be looking more for his jump shot than being a slasher and finishing at the rim.  His defense, and being the teams top defender, helps out in crunch time for San Antonio.  His long wingspan takes everyone by surprise and how he can be in the right spot at the right time makes it a hard night for teams.

Grade:  B

PF Tim Duncan | 25 points, 11-of-17 shooting, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 blocks, 31 minutes

Mar 20, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (right) is defended by San Antonio Spurs forward Tiago Splitter (left) during the second half at the AT

Are you really surprised by his stat lines as of late?  Duncan has been the one guy that has stepped up big with Tony Parker going down. Over his passed three games he is shooting 64% from the floor.  He looks fresh.  He was all over the floor against the Warriors and showing his passing strength as well.  Duncan was just two assists away from being the teams leader in assists on Wednesday night.  His ability to find teammates is remarkable.  He also has been so defensive minded for the team that surely is giving up more points than they want.  He was Tim Duncan.

Grade: A+

C Tiago Splitter | 17 points, 6-of-12 shooting, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, 31 minutes

Like his counterpart, Splitter also played 31 minutes.  He looked great on Wednesday night.  His defense on Bogut and Lee disrupted the Warriors big men.  He, along with Duncan shut them down as they went a combined 6-of-36 in the game.

Grade:  A

Manu Ginobili | 16 points, 5-of-16 shooting, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 28 minutes

He looks unsync on the offensive end when he is looking to score.  He does not look like the Ginobili we are all used too.  He did finish with 16 points on the night, hitting two from 3-point land and was 4-for-4 from the free throw line.  Ginobili continues to be the distributor on the team.  He finished with 7 assists on the night, one better than Tim Duncan.

Grade: B

Boris Diaw | 4 points, 2-of-3 shooting, 1 rebounds, 2 steals, 21 minutes

Diaw we look at as not being a scorer.  He knows his role and does not take a shot unless he feels the need to.  There are the little things that he does on the floor that makes him a good player.  During the game against the Warriors, he set some good screens as well as helped move the ball around to open teammates.

Grade:  C+

Nando De Colo | 10 points, 5-of-6 shooting, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 24 minutes

Mar 20, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Nando De Colo (25) drives to the basket past Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the first half at the AT

If there is one player that made the most out of his minutes tonight it was that of Nando De Colo.  He was the talk all over twitter as well as post game reports.  De Colo to me showed a lot.  He was aggressive, he controlled the game really well.  His play sparked Popovich to keep him in the lineup more than Joseph Wednesday night.  Knowing the playoffs are just around the corner, one feels that De Colo is fighting for a playoff roster spot.  What do you think?

Grade:  B+

Stephen Jackson | 8 points, 3-of-10 shooting, 1 assists, 15 minutes

A not so good night of shooting for Stephen Jackson.  He hit just three of this 10 attempts on his way for 8 points in 15 minutes.  Jackson couldn’t get into a rhythm during the game against the Warriors.  He too seemed out of sync on the offensive end.

Grade: C-

Matt Bonner | 6 points, 2-of-3 shooting, 1 rebound, 10 minutes

Bonner played just 10 minutes hitting two three-pointers.  That pretty much sums up his play.

Grade: C+